VirginiaAnesthesiologist Assistant License Requirements

Anesthesiologist Assistant programs are master's-level programs accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). Programs typically require 24-28 months of full-time study and include extensive clinical rotations in anesthesia. Admission requires a bachelor's degree with pre-medical science prerequisites including organic chemistry, physics, biology, and biochemistry. There are currently about 13 CAAHEP-accredited AA programs in the United States.

The AA-C (Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant) credential is granted by the NCCAA upon passing the national certification examination. All states that authorize Anesthesiologist Assistants require the AA-C credential. Candidates must graduate from a CAAHEP-accredited Anesthesiologist Assistant master's program before taking the examination. The AA-C must be maintained through continuing education credits and recertification every two years. Practice is limited to direct anesthesiologist supervision in all authorizing states.

The NCCAA (National Commission for Certification of Anesthesiologist Assistants) administers the certification examination for Anesthesiologist Assistants. The exam covers pharmacology, anatomy and physiology, clinical anesthesia, patient monitoring, airway management, regional anesthesia, and pain management. Candidates must graduate from a CAAHEP-accredited AA program before sitting for the examination. The AA-C credential is awarded upon passing and must be maintained through continuing education and periodic recertification.

Additional Notes

Virginia authorized AA licensure effective July 1, 2025 (SB 882/HB 1647).

Anesthesiologist Assistants (AAs) are licensed or authorized to practice in approximately 20 states. AAs work exclusively under the direct supervision of licensed anesthesiologists, providing anesthesia care in hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers. States that do not authorize AAs rely primarily on Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) for non-physician anesthesia services. Legislative efforts to expand AA authorization continue in many states.

Anesthesiologist Assistants work exclusively under the direct supervision of licensed anesthesiologists. Their scope of practice includes pre-anesthetic patient evaluation, obtaining vascular access, administering anesthetic agents, performing airway management, monitoring patients during anesthesia, assisting with regional anesthesia techniques, and providing post-anesthesia care. AAs practice in hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, and other approved medical facilities. The supervising anesthesiologist must be immediately available at all times during anesthesia care.

CE Details

CE requirements to be established by the Board of Medicine; regulations under development.

Regulatory Board

Anesthesiologist Assistant licenses are typically renewed every two years. The NCCAA requires 40 continuing education credits per two-year certification cycle for AA-C recertification. State CE requirements generally align with NCCAA standards and include topics such as clinical anesthesia, pharmacology, patient safety, airway management, and medical ethics. Many states accept NCCAA-approved CE credits for state renewal.

Reciprocity Requirements

• •Hold a current, active AA-C certification from the NCCAA
• •Graduate from a CAAHEP-accredited Anesthesiologist Assistant program
• •Provide verification of licensure/registration from originating state (if applicable)
• •Pass a criminal background check
• •Pay required application and licensing fees
• •Secure a supervising anesthesiologist in the new state

States that authorize Anesthesiologist Assistants generally accept the AA-C credential from the NCCAA for reciprocity purposes. Requirements typically include verification of current AA-C certification, graduation from a CAAHEP-accredited program, and a clean disciplinary record. Since the AA-C is a nationally standardized credential, transfer between authorizing states is generally straightforward, though specific requirements should be verified with each state's medical board.